Concrete mixer



June 29, 1943. A WAGNER ETAL 2,322,900

CONCRETE MIXER Filed Aug. 8. 1942 2 Sheets-Shed 1 Tigil I N VE N TOR 5HAROLD A. WAGNER GUSTAVE H. WAGNER ATTORNEY June 29, 1943. H, A. WAGNERETAb 2,322,900 I CONCRETE MIXER Filed Aug. 8, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvvsTORS HAROLD A. AGNER GUSTAVE H. WAGNER Maia;

ATTORNEY Patented June 29, 1943 CONCRETE MIXER Harold A. Wagner andGustave H. Wagner, Portland, Oreg.

Application August 8, 1942, Serial No. 454,106

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to concrete mix: ers, and moreparticularly to portable concrete mixing plants which are mounted uponan automotive Vehicle chassis.

Large capacity concrete mixing plants are inherently relatively large,bulky pieces of machinery, and the mounting of such machine upon anautomotive vehicle chassis inherently presents unusual problems ofdesign. The arrangement of the drum, the concrete hoisting tower, thedrum loading skip, together with the necessary driving and controllingmeans, as well as the various auxiliary apparatus, upon the vehicle in acompact, yet eflicient, manner is essential in order that the weight andoverall size of the machine may be maintained within reasonablelimitations. I

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedstructural arrangement in a vehicle mounted concrete mixing plant.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a vehiclemounted concrete mixing plant having a longitudinally mounted drum, ahoisting tower at the rear end thereof and a loading skip at the forwardend thereof, a new and improved arrangement of a water accumulator tankin the forward end of the vehicle and struction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved chute arrangement for directing ingredient into the mixer drumfrom a loading skip pivotally mounted on the front end of the vehiclefor hoisting ingredients from ground level to a dumping position abovethe forward end of the mixer drum.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improvedstructural arrangement in a vehicle mounted concrete mixing plant havinga loading skip on the front end thereof and a hoisting tower on the rearend, the side frame structure being so designed as to guide upwardpivotal movement of the skip, and to rec'eive therebetween the towerunit when lowered to the inoperative position.

' .In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, aportable, vehicle mounted concrete mixer is provided having a frame witha mixer drum mounted longitudinally on the rear end portion thereof. Ahoisting tower is pivotally mounted on the upper rear end of the framebehind the mixer drum, and .a loading skip i pivotally mounted upon theforward end portion of the vehicle. frame for hoisting dry ingredientsfrom substantially ground level to a dumping p0- sition above theforward end of the mixer drum. A cab is provided in the forward end ofthe mixer vehicle from which the machine is controlled, particularly aswhen traveling between construc. tion sites. The forward end of thevehicle frame is defined by a pair of opposite side frame members whichguide the movement of the loading.

skip arrangement between the lower and uppermost positions. A water tanki provided between the opposite side frame members firmly bracing themapart and also providing a roof over the vehicle cab. A rear wallportion of the tank defines in part a'chute for directing ingredientsfrom the loading skip into the mixer drum. The upper wall of the tank isspaced somewhat below the upper extremity of the opposite side framemembers so that a space is provided therebetween for cooperativelyreceiving the tower in the lowered position thereof. A pair of hingedplate are provided between the side frame members which, when the toweris elevated, may be raised to upright positions between the upper endsof the side frame members forming extensions of the chute forfacilitating the charging of the mixer drum.

For a consideration of what is believed novel and invention, attentionis directed to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, while the features of novelty will be pointed outwith greater particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 i a side elevation of a vehicle mountedportable concrete mixing plant constructed in accordance with one formof the present invention and illustrated in the set up or operativecondition; Figure 2 is a view of the same plant illustrated in Figure 1but shown in the inoperative position as for traveling; Figure 3.

is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the forward end of themixer plant illustrating more particularly the arrangement of the watertank and drum charging chute; Figure 4 is a front end view of the upperportion of the concrete mixer taken along the line 44 of Figure 2;Figure 5 is a plan view of a portion of the concrete mixer illustratingmore particularly the arrangement of the drum charging chute; and Figur6 is a detailed view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figures l and '2, there isshown a concrete mixing plant comprising a vehicle chassis supportedupon front wheels l0 and rear wheel II. A concrete mixing drum I2 ismounted upon the rear end of the vehicle with its axis extendinglongitudinally of the vehicle chassis. Pivotally mounted at the rear endof the drum I2, as at l3, upon the member M of the vehicle framework isa tower, indicated generally at I5, having a bucket [6 arranged thereinfor receiving mixed concrete from the drum l2 and hoisting it to desiredheights. the upright position the tower i adapted to be braced bymembers I! extending to frame members I8 hinged as at I9 to the upperportion of the fixed framework of the machine.

An operators cab is provided in the forward end of the vehicle fromwhich it may be controlled as during transportation of the plant betweenconstruction sites. Between the cab 20 and the adjacent end of the drumi2 is provided a space 2| within which is arranged such apparatus aswater pumps, winches and miscellaneous driving and control means. Forhoisting dry ingredients from ground level to dumping position above theforward end of the mixer drum l2 there is provided a loading skip 22 ofa width substantially equal to the width of the vehicle and whichextends across the forward end thereof. The skip 22 is pivotally mountedas at 23 between the outer ends of a pair of arms 24 which are pivotallyattached at their other ends to the opposite sides of the mixerframework adjacent the forward end as indicated at 25. Cables 26connected to the skip and trained over pulleys 21 on the upper ends ofthe hinged frame members l8 extend to winch drums 28 for effectingupward pivotal movement of the skip 22 over the forward end of thevehicle to dumping position thereabove. I

The particular arrangement of the tower structure shown is morespecifically disclosed and claimed incur copending patent application,Serial No. 460,362, filed October 3, 1942, entitled Concrete mixertower. The specific arrangement of the loading skip structureillustrated is particularly disclosed and claimed in our copendingpatent application, Serial No. 442,630, filed May 12, 1942, entitledConcrete mixers.

The present invention is concerned primarily with the frame structure ofthe forward end of the concrete mixer plant shown, including a watertank and charging chute for the drum. In the construction of largecapacity portable concrete mixing plants of the type herein considered,it will be obvious thatthe arrangement of the various parts contributingto the successful operation of the plant entails complicated problems ofdesign in order that a most economical utilization of the availablespace on the vehicle chassis may be made, and also that the total weightand overall dimensions of the plant may be kept at a minimum,particularly to satisfy highway limitations as to clearances, weightrestrictions, and the like.

In mixing large batches of concrete, a considerable quantity of water isrequired for each batch and, in order to cut down the time required forthe preparation of each batch to a minimum, the requisite quantity ofwater should be available for dumping into the mixer drum substantiallysimultaneously with the charging of the dry ingredients thereinto. Inthe average construction project water supply conduits are of relativelysmall size so that a considerable amount of time would ordinarily berequired to run the necessary amount of water directly into the mixingdrum from the supply lines. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide awater storage tank on the concrete mixer plant and in which water may baccumulated during the period of concrete mixing and dischargingoperations and held in readiness for the next successive charging of themixer drum. The capacity of such an accumulator tank should be at leastas great as the maximum amount of water required for each chargingoperation. In a large capacity concrete mixing plant it will readily beunderstood that the size of such a tank will be quite large and,accordingly, the matter of arrangement of such a tank on the vehiclechassis presents a considerable problem.

In the machine of the present invention, the water tank is provided inthe forward end of the vehicle above the cab and between the oppositeside frame members. It will be observed that the forward end of themixer frame is defined in part by a pair of arcuate shaped members 3|extending in parallel vertical planes and arranged about a centercorresponding to the pivotal mounting 25 for the skip supporting arms24. These opposite side frame members 3| act as guides for stabilizingmovement of the skip between lower and upper positions. The guides 3!being arranged between the skip supporting arms 24 are adapted to beengaged by rollers 32 provided on the arms 24 a corresponding distancefrom the pivotal mounting- 25.

Referring now more particularly to the cross, sectional view of Figure3, the water tank, indi. cated generally at 33, will be described ingreater detail. The opposite sides of the tank are formed by a pair ofopposite plates 34 which are secured along their arcuate upper edges asby welding to the inner sides of the arcuate frame members- 3I, as wellas to fram members I4 and 35. The, tank i also formed by curved upperand lower Walls 3? and 38 which are welded together along their forwardedges as indicated at 39 and along their opposite sides to the side wallplates 34.

The upper and lower walls 31 and 38 are pref-' erably curvedsubstantially as indicated, so as to impart increased rigidity thereto.The walls 31 and 38, While joined together along their for- Ward edges,diverge from each other in extend ing rearwardly so as to define aconsiderable space therebetween. The rear wall of the tank is defined bya sloping plate 4! which is welded to the rear edges of the upper andlower walls 31 and 38, and also to the opposite sid wall plates 35forming an enclosure of considerable capacity.

With the structure thus far described it will be observed that the watertank acts substantially in the manner of a brace between the oppositesides of the mixer frame structure including the arcuate guides 3i andthe forward ends of the frame members M. The water tank, extendingsubstantially from the forwardmost end of the mixer plant to a pointimmediately adjacent the forward end of the mixer drum also forms a roofover the operators compartment or cab 20, as well as a roof over theauxiliary apparatus compartment 2! provided between the cab 23 and theforward end of the mixer drum.

In order that overall height of the mixing plant with the tower in thelowered position may be reduced to a minimum, for facilitating travelalong right-of-ways having restricted overhead clearances and forlowering the center of gravity as much as possible, the uppermost wall31 of the tank extends generally horizontally substan-- tially in theplane of the pivotal axis l3 of the tower. The wall 3'! of the tank isthus spaced considerably below the upper extremities of the side framemembers 3| so that a space longitudinally of the vehicle is definedwithin the upperv forward portion of the frame structure forcooperatively receiving the tower unit in the lowered position asindicated in Figure 2.

A chute, indicated generally at 40, for directing the ingredientsthrough the charging port in the forward end of the mixer drum is formedin part by the sloping rear wall 4| of the water tank133, the lowerportion of which wall extends below the tank proper as indicated at 43,while the central extremity thereof is of a reduced width defining thebottom wall of a spout 44 which extends through the mixing drum chargingport, Opposite the sloping wall 4| is a vertical wall 45 which extendsbetween the opposite side frames of the vehicle and is secured theretoas by welding. Secured between the sloping wall 4| and the vertical wall45 are the pair of downwardly converging opposite side walls 46 and 4],as shown more clearly in the view of Figure 5. The spout 44 for thechute is further formed by an upper wall portion 48 secured to the lowerend of the vertical wall 45 and a pair of opposite side wall sections49. Hingedly secured along the upper edge of the tank wall 4| is a plateof substantially the same width as the spacing between the opposite sideframe members 3|, and which in the raised position rests against stops52 and 53 secured to the opposite side frames and which support theplate 5| in substantially the same angular position as the sloping rearwall 4|. Hinged as at 55 to the upper edge of the vertical chute wall 45is another hinged plate 56 of substantially the same width as thespacing between the opposite side frames and which is adapted to besecured in vertical alignment with the wall 45 by catches 58. With thehinged plates 5| and 56 in the upright position as shown in full line inFigure 3, an enlarged extension or hopper is formed above the upper endof the chute 40 which is sufiiciently large so as properly to receivethe contents being dumped from the charging skip 22. The capacity of thechute thus formed is sufficient for holding in the manner of a hopperthe contents of the skip in the event that the skip is dumped at a ratefaster than the contents can flow through the spout 44 into the mixerdrum.

The chute extension plates 5| and 56, being hinged along their loweredges, may be folded downwardly to the dotted line positions as shownwhen it is desired to pivot the tower unit l5 to the lowered positionbetween the opposite side frames of the vehicle. In the loweredposition, the hinged extension plates 5| and 56 close the upper end ofthe chute and also thereby clear the space between the upper ends of theopposite side frames for the tower unit.

Means are provided for emptying the water from the tank 33 eitherdirectly into the mixer drum I2, or, preferably, into the chute 40. Asshown more clearly in Figure 3, a pipe 6| extending through the lowerwall 38 of the tank is connected to a pump 62 which in turn dischargesthrough the pipe 63 into a corner of the chute 40 and beneath the baffleplate 65. The baffle plate 65, as noted more clearly in the views ofFigure 5 and Figure 6, is securely welded along its opposite side edgesto the rear tank wall 4| and the chute side plate 41 defining atriangular space therebetween and which is open at the lower end. Waterbeing discharged from pipe 63 through the opening 66 in the tank wall 4|is deflected downwardly by the bafiie plate 65 and because of the forceand quantity thereof it acts ment of said skip,

in the manner of a jet to force the ingredients dumped into the chutedownwardly through the spout 44 into the mixer drum. It will be obviousthat with this arrangement the water ispremixed with the dry ingredientsbefore they pass into the mixer drum.

The tank 53 may be filled with water through any suitable connection(not shown) with a source of water supply. 4

Having described the principles of the invention in what are consideredto be preferred em bodiments thereof, it is desired that it be understood that the various specific details shown are merely illustrative,and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

We claim: 1

1. In a. vehicle mounted concrete mixing plant having a cab in theforward end thereof and a loading skip pivotally mounted on said plantfor hoisting ingredients from ground level to' dumping position abovesaid cab, the combination comprising a pair of arcuate opposite sideframe members arranged concentrically with the pivotal axis of said skipfor guiding the upward pivotal movement of said loading skip, meansincluding a water tank extending the width of said vehicle for bracingsaid side frame members, apart, the bottom wall of said tank definingthe roof of said cab.

2. In a vehicle mounted concrete mixer having an operators cab in theforward end thereof and a loading skip pivotally mounted on the forwardend of the vehicle for hoisting ingredients from ground level to adumping position above said cab, the combination comprising a pair ofarcuate opposite side frame members for guiding movement of said skipbetween lower and upper positions, a Water tank extending the Width ofsaid vehicle for bracing said side frame members apart, the rear wall ofsaid tank defining in part a chute for directing ingredients from saidskip into the mixer drum.

3. In a concrete mixer, the combination comprising a vehicle frame, amixer drum mounted on the rear end of said frame with its axis extendinglongitudinally with respect to said frame, said mixer drum having acharging port in the forward end thereof, an operators space on theforward end of said frame, a loading skip pivotally attached to saidframe and extending beyond the forward end thereof, said skip beingmovable upwardly over said operators space, a pair of arcuate guidesforming the forward end of said frame for guiding upward pivotal moveawater tank mounted in said frame above said operators space, said tankextending the Width of said frame between said opposite arcuate guides,the rear wall of said tank defining in part a chute for directingingredients from said skip through said mixer drum charging port.

4. In a concrete mixer the combination comprising a vehicle frame, amixer drum mounted longitudinally upon the rear part of said frame, saidmixer drum having a charging port in the forward end thereof, a cab inthe forward end of said frame, a loading skip extending across theforward end of said frame, said skip being pivotally attached to theopposite sides of said frame and being pivotally movable from groundlevel upwardly over said cab to dumping position above said drumcharging port, the forward end of said frame comprising a pair ofvertically arranged parallel arcuate guides on the opposite sidesthereof for guiding upward pivotal movement of said skip, said arcuateguides being arranged concentrically with the pivotal axis of said skip,means including a water tank arranged over said cab and extendingbetween the opposite sides of said vehicle frame for bracing saidarcuate guides apart;

5. In a concrete mixer the combination comprising a vehicle frame, amixer drum mounted longitudinally upon the rear end of said frame, saidmixer drum having a charging port in the forward end thereof, a cab inthe forward end of said frame, a loading skip extending across theforward end of said vehicle frame, means pivotally mounting said skip tothe opposite sides of said frame, said skip being pivotally movable fromground level upwardly over said cab to dumping position above said drumcharging port, a pair of opposite side frame members for guiding upwardpivotal movement of said skip, means bracing said side frame membersapart comprising a water storage tank extending therebetween andsupporting thereby above said vehicle cab.

6. In a vehicle mounted concrete mixing plant having a cab in theforward end thereof and a loading skip pivotally mounted for hoistingingredients from ground level to dumping position above said cab, thecombination comprising a pair of arcuate opposite side frame members forguiding the upward pivotal movement of said loading skip, a water tankextending the width of said vehicle, the opposite side walls of saidtank being rigidly secured to said arcuate side frame membersfor'supporting said tank therebetween and for bracing said side framemembers apart, the rear wall of said tank defining in part a chute fordirecting ingredients from said skip into the mixer drum, a hingedextension on said rear tank wall forming an enlarge-. ment of 'saidchute in the raised position thereof, said extension closing said chutein the lowered position thereof.

'7. In a vehicle mounted concrete mixing plant having a cab in theforward end thereof and a loading skip pivotally mounted for hoistingingredients from ground level to dumping position above said cab, thecombination comprising a pair of opposite side frame members for guidingthe upward pivotal movement of said loading skip, means including awater tank extending the width of said vehicle for bracing said sideframe members apart, the rear wall of said tank defining in part a chutefor directing ingredients from said skip into the mixer drum, adischarge outlet for said water tank in said chute for expediting flowof ingredients into said drum and for premixing water with saidingredients.

HAROLD A. WAGNER. GUSTAVE H. 'WAGNER.

